NORTH AUGUSTA --- North Augusta encountered its lowest point of the season early in Friday night's nonregion matchup against Strom Thurmond.
The Yellow Jackets won the game 27-16, but the outcome wasn't leaning that way when the Rebels scored on their third play from scrimmage for a 7-0 lead 58 seconds after kickoff.
The North Augusta defense scrambled around trying to line up properly when Strom Thurmond started the game in a shotgun formation. The Rebels exposed the early weakness with a 65-yard Chris Blocker run up the middle to the 3-yard line. Two plays later, North Augusta was trailing for the first time this season.
"They must have been studying our film, because they saw us line up wrong and took advantage of it. We didn't have enough linebackers in the box," inside linebacker Montel Hughes said.
"We had our heads down after that. We did. But then me and (fellow starting linebacker) L.J. (Perry) started getting everybody up. We knew we couldn't let that happen again."
North Augusta's offense answered quickly with a touchdown on its own third play from scrimmage, and the Yellow Jacket defense didn't allow another score until the fourth quarter to improve to 3-0 on the season.
"The defense is where we stood out tonight," North Augusta coach Dan Pippin said. "We allowed them to stay in the game a little too long, but we made some big defensive plays."
While the Yellow Jackets' defense held, North Augusta wasted little time on a comeback. Quarterback Loranzo Hammonds found receiver Matt Hazel in stride for a 69-yard touchdown pass two and a half minutes into the game. Hazel made six receptions for 187 yards on the night. Hammonds threw for 243 yards and added two touchdowns on the ground.
"They've got some weapons, and going in we knew we'd have to cut down on allowing big plays," Strom Thurmond coach Lee Sawyer said. "Well, I lost count of big plays they made."
After a 21-7 halftime lead, North Augusta let Strom Thurmond back into the game on an interception. The Rebels drove to the Yellow Jackets 10, but Hughes' open-field tackle on third down forced Strom Thurmond to settle for a field goal.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
NORTH AUGUSTA 27, STROM THURMOND 16
PLAY OF THE GAME: Loranzo Hammonds lobbed a pass to Matt Hazel on North Augusta's third play from scrimmage for a 69-yard touchdown to answer an earlier Strom Thurmond score.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Hazel filled a highlight reel with six receptions for 187 yards and scored two touchdowns.
WHY NORTH AUGUSTA WON: Despite allowing a 65-yard run on the first play of the game, the Yellow Jackets' defense regrouped to shut out Strom Thurmond the rest of the half and stifle a Rebels rally late in the game.
WHY STROM THURMOND LOST: The Rebels' offense couldn't find a rhythm and left its defense on the field too long.
WHAT'S NEXT: North Augusta at Richmond Academy, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Strom Thurmond vs. South Aiken, Friday, 7:30.
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